Bre’Anna Johnson had just turned 28. She was four months along, carrying twin boys, and had her whole future ahead of her. By October 2024, she was gone — along with both her unborn sons — killed by the man who was supposed to love her.
Darryl Tyson Jr., 41, of Missouri, pleaded guilty Tuesday to three counts of second-degree murder and one count of domestic assault in connection with Johnson’s death. A judge sentenced him to life in prison, with the possibility of parole only after 25 years.
From the very beginning, Tyson had a story ready. He told police he believed Johnson was facing him when the shots were fired — framing it as self-defense. But an autopsy shattered that claim completely: Johnson had been shot five times in the back. Prosecutors added that she appeared to be falling to the ground when the bullets struck her.
“When it happened, he initially told the police that he believed she was facing him. Obviously, once we got the discovery and seen the photographs from the autopsy, that was not accurate.” — Defense attorney Raphael Morris
Tyson’s own attorney confirmed the autopsy evidence was so damaging that continuing to trial made no sense. After seeing the photographs, Tyson dropped the self-defense claim and admitted guilt. Morris said his client ultimately decided a guilty plea was in his best interest.
At sentencing, Johnson’s mother, Janette Perry, walked into the courtroom carrying her daughter’s ashes in an urn. She wanted Bre’Anna to be there — to hear Tyson say the word guilty himself.
“I wanted her to see. I wanted her to hear him say guilty. It wasn’t a jury that said he was guilty. He said he was guilty. That was justice for Bre’Anna, and I wanted her to hear that.” — Janette Perry, Bre’Anna’s mother
But for Perry, life with parole isn’t enough. “I would like it to be worse. I’d like him to never see the light of day,” she said. “It’s justice for Bre’Anna and her sons.”
What This Means: Tyson will be eligible for parole in 25 years — meaning he could walk free in his late 60s. For a mother who brought her daughter’s ashes to watch a killer confess, that possibility will never sit right. Three lives were taken that October morning. Only one person is paying the price.
Bre’Anna Johnson never got to meet her sons. The least the justice system could do was make sure the man who took them all never forgets what he did.
